Control system for twisting machine



Aug. 26, 1969 C. W. BROUWER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TWISTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 196'? FIG.3 T 9 INVENTOR.

OUWER CHARLES W M M V ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,462,935 CONTROL SYSTEM FGR TWISTING MACHHNE Charles W. Brouwer, East Greenwich, Conn, assignor to Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.I., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 651,034 Int. Cl. Dtllh 9/14, 13/26 U.S. Cl. 57-54 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISQLGSURE The invention is directed to a twisting machine such as a spinning frame or a twister and, more particularly, to a control system for preventing overfilling of a yarn receiver and facilitating winding of a desired number of tail coils on the yarn receiver.

As used herein, the term bobbin means any core or other member on which yarn is wound so that it may be moved from place to place. The term yarn receiver means a bobbin or a bobbin receiving spindle or both, as will be apparent later. The term yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise.

Twisting machines such as spinning frames or twisters have a ring rail which guides a strand of yarn onto a rotating yarn receiver such as a bobbin. In one form of commercially successful spinning frame a bobbin rotates with a spindle as a ring rail moves longitudinally from a lower end of the bobbin to the upper end while reciprocating in short strokes to wind a strand of yarn on the bobbin in a desired manner. When the bobbin is filled with yarn a doffer concurrently shuts off a motor driving the machine and moves the ring rail back to its starting position at the lower end of the bobbin to lay a halch (a spiral winding extending from the top to the bottom end of the bobbin) and to wind tail coils at the bottom end of the bobbin. Thus, the number of tail coils wound on the bobbin depends on two factors, first the time required for the apparatus to coast to a stop after a drive motor has been shut-off by the operator, and second, the judgment of the operator as to when the motor should be shutoff in relationship to the return of the ring rail to the lower end of the bobbin and the time required for the winding apparatus to coast to a stop. These variables result in varition in the number of tail coils wound on different bobbins. Also, the length of yarn Wound on any given bobbin depends on when the operator shuts off the motor and returns the ring rail to the bottom end of the bobbin. Thus, the length of yarn on similar bobbins produced by any mill may vary substantially. In other machines the ring rail may be vertically stationary and the bobbin moved vertically during winding. In still other machines both the ring rail and the bobbin may move vertically, all is as well understood in the art.

Should the doffer fail to shut-off the motor at the proper time, a bobbin will overfill and this results in a wasted bobbin and excessive shut down time in removing the overfilled bobbin and inserting a new bobbin. Proposals for overcoming these difiiculties have not received general acceptance in the industry, at least in part because they did not function well or were too expensive, or both.

The invention is, in brief, directed to a control system for twisting machines such as a spinning frame or twister in which a yarn receiver and a ring rail move relative to each other longitudinally of the yarn receiver for filling the yarn receiver and then winding 3. halch and tail coils on the yarn receiver. The control system effectively prevents overfilling of the yarn receiver should the dotfer fail to lower the ring rail in a timely manner. Furthermore, the control system facilitates winding substantially the same number of tail coils on each yarn receiver as it is filled.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved control system for a twisting machine such as a spinning frame or twister.

Another object is to provide a new and improved control system for winding a predetermined number of tail coils on a yarn receiver of a twisting machine.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved control system for effectively preventing overfilling of a bobbin on a twisting machine. A related object is provision in such a control system for winding a predetermined number of tail coils on the yarn receiver.

A more specific object is provision of a new and improved control system for a twisting machine having means for driving mechanism which delivers a strand of yarn via a guide member to a rotating yarn receiver and automatically moves the guide member and yarn receiver relative to each other from one end of the yarn receiver to the other for filling the yarn receiver, with provision for stopping operation of the mechanism to prevent overfilling of the yarn receiver, the guide member and yarn receiver being moved relative to each other back to the first end of the yarn receiver for winding tail coils on the yarn receiver. A related object is provision for adjusting the control system to wind substantially any desired member of tail coils on the yarn receiver.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic elevation view of yarn receiver and ring rail portions of a spinning frame with related drive mechanism and a portion of a control system, with a part broken away for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic view of a portion of the control system shown in FIG. 1, as the yarn receiver has filled the desired amount;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, after the yarn receiver has started to overfill;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, as the halch is being wound on the yarn receiver and driving of the mechanism has been stopped;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the control reset for starting the winding of another receiver;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, schematic elevational view of the lower portion of the yarn receiver shown in FIG. 1, with tail coils wound on the lower end of a bobbin of the yarn receiver, and parts removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but with the tail coils wound on a spindle of the yarn receiver; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an electric circuit portion of the control system.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the principles of a twisting machine in the form of a spinning frame. Portions of the spinning frame have been simplified or omitted for clearer illustration and, as

shown, the spinning frame includes a base or frame 11 having a pair of opposed uprights 12 only one of which is shown. A yarn guide member in the form of a ring rail 13 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on the uprights 12. A ring track 14 on the ring rail 13 encircles a yarn receiver 15 and carries a traveler 16 which slidably receives a strand of yarn 17 and continuously circles the yarn receiver 15 as the strand is being wound thereon. The ring rails of industrial spinning frames carry a plurality of rings and travelers each associated with different yarn receivers, but for purposes of clearer illustration only one ring 14 and traveler 16, and associated yarn receiver 15 is shown.

In filling the yarn receiver 15 the ring rail 13 travels longitudinally of the yarn receiver from a first, lower end 18 thereof to a second, upper end 19. Upward movement of the ring rail 13 is effected by a weight 20 secured to the ring rail by a cable 21 passing over a pulley wheel 22 suitably mounted (not shown) on the frame 11. This upward movement is controlled by drive means including an electric motor 23 mounted on the frame 11 and drivingly connected by means of a belt drive 24 and a first gear box 25 with a worm gear 26 meshed with a worm wheel 27 journaled (not shown) on the frame and fixedly secured to a chain sprocket 28. A chain 29 secured to the sprocket 28 is attached to the ring rail 13 so that as the worm 26 turns the ring rail is permitted to rise slowly under the influence of the weight 20. Suitable means, beyond the scope of this invention, is provided for rewinding the chain onto the sprocket 28 as the ring rail 13 is lowered.

When winding yarn, the strand of yarn 17 from a suitable supply package 30 passes through a yarn guide 31 and then through one or more feed or drawing rolls 32 drivingly connected with the motor 23 through a second gear box 33. From the rolls 32 the strand of yarn 17 passes through another yarn guide 34 and then through the traveler 16 on the ring 14 from which it is wound onto the rotating yarn receiver 15. During the winding operation the traveler 16 rides on the ring 14 and continuously circles the yarn receiver 15.

The yarn receiver 15 herein illustrated includes a frustoconical bobbin 35 snugly received on the frusto-conical end 36 of a spindle 37 for rotation therewith. In the illustrated embodiment the spindle has an annular flange 38 suitably supported on a frame member 39 with the spindle journaled therein and depending from the frame member. The spindle is rotated by the motor 23 through a belt drive 40 including a pulley 41 on the lower end of the spindle 37, and the second gear box 33. In passing, it should be noted that the ring rail 13 reciprocates in short strokes longitudinally of the yarn receiver 15 as the ring rail moves to the upper end 19 of the yarn receiver. Such movement is effected by oscillation of the chain sprocket 28 and worm wheel 27 and the worm 26, as indicated by the double ended arrow 42 in FIG. 1. Since this function and structure of a spinning frame is well known, the related oscillating features are not illustrated.

In starting to wind a bobbin on the machine described with reference to FIG. 1, the free end of the yarn 17 is secured to the yarn receiver 15 and the doffer (machine operator) starts the motor by means of a start switch 43 of any suitable type of motor starter. The yarn is then wound onto the bobbin 35 as the ring rail 13 rises from its starting point at the lower end 18 of the yarn receiver. When the bobbin 35 is full the doffer concurrently stops the motor by means of a stop button 44 and manually lowers the ring rail 13, thus winding a halch 45 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and then tail coils 46 (FIG. 6) or 47 (FIG. 7) on the yarn receiver 15 as the machine coasts to a stop. As previously discussed, the number of tail coils may vary considerably from bobbin to bobbin.

The subject control system includes an actuator device shown in FIGS. 1-5, and the electrical circuit illustrated in FIG. 8. First means in the form of a plunger-type switch 48 is fixedly secured to the ring rail 13 by means of a mounting plate 49 and is connected in circuit with the motor 23. When a spring pressed plunger operator 50 of the switch 48 is in a normal, extended position, the switch is closed. With this switch closed, the start switch 43 may be closed to connect the motor 23 in circuit whereupon the motor drives the spinning frame winding mechanism.

As the bobbin 35 is being wound, the free end of the plunger 50 is moved by second means in the form of an actuating assembly 51 including a generally vertical tail coil control actuator edge 52 of an adjusting member 53 pivotally mounted on a movable actuator plate 54 of the actuating assembly 51 by means of a pivot pin 55. This edge 52 receives the plunger 50. Once the spinning frame has been set up for a winding operation, the adjusting member 53 is fixed relative to the movable actuator plate 54 by a set screw 56 passing through an arcuate slot 57 in the adjusting member 53 and threadedly received in the actuator plate 54. A pivot pin 58 movably mounts the actuator plate 54 on a base plate 59 which is fixedly secured to the upright 12 of the frame 11. As winding proceeds, the ring rail 13 moves upwardly and first actuator means in the form of a top abutment pin 60 fixedly secured to the mounting plate 49 on ring rail 13 engages an upper finger 61 of the actuator plate 54. When the abutment pin 60 engages this upper finger 61 the actuator plate 54 and its adjusting member 53 are pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIGS. 24, in which position the actuator plate 54 engages a stop pin 62 on the actuator base plate 59. An overcenter tension spring 63 mounted on the base plate 59 and the actuator plate 54, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, releasably maintains the actuator plate 54 against the stop pin 62 as shown in FIGS. 24. In this position, as the ring rail 13 continues to move upwardly when the bobbin 35 is full, the doifer should manually depress the ring rail.

With reference to FIG. 3, should the doffer be late in lowering the ring rail 13, the rail continues to rise and the switch plunger 50 engages and is moved to a second, depressed position by an overfill limiting abutment edge 64 which is inclined upwardly and outwardly from the generally vertical edge 52 of the adjusting member 53, thus automatically shutting off the motor 23 and therefore the winding mechanism. In this event, when the doifer returns to attend to the machine he first depresses the ring rail 13 slightly to move the switch plunger 50 away from the overfill limiting abutment 64 and then closes the start switch 43 to start the motor 23 and the mechanism operating. The machine is again in operation even though the overfill limiting control has functioned. When the ring rail 13 has been moved to the bottom of its alloted travel it will be seated on the spindle support frame member 39 or on a suitable adjustable stop (not shown) mounted on the frame 11. As the bobbin 35 continues to rotate, the tail coats 46 or 47 are now wound thereon.

As the ring rail 13 is moved toward its lowermost position, the extended switch plunger (same position as in FIG. 2) will be depressed (FIG. 4) by the now canted actuating edge 52 of the adjusting member 53 to shut olf the motor 23, whereupon the mechanism coasts to a stop. The point at which the switch plunger 50 is depressed to shut-off the motor 23 during downward travel of the ring rail 13 may be adjusted by loosening the setscrew 56 and adjusting the member 53 clockwise to cause the motor to shut-off earlier in the downward travel of the ring rail, or by pivoting the adjusting member 53 counterclockwise to cause the motor to shut-off later in the downward travel of the ring rail, and then tightening the set screw 56. Once this adjustment has been made no further attention is required during any particular set-up of the machine.

When the ring rail 13 approaches its lower most position, second actuator means in the form of a lower abutment pin 65 engages a lower finger 66 on the actuator plate 54 and causes the plate to again pivot overcenter and into engagement with a second stop pin 67 (FIGS. 1 and 5) on the actuator base plate 59 and is held in place by the overcenter spring 63 so that the control system is again in its original position ready to wind another bobbin.

Depending on how far the ring rail 13 is depressed, the mechanism is operable for winding tail coils 46 either upon the lower end of the bobbin 35 as shown in FIG. 6, or for winding the tail coils 47 upon the spindle 37 as shown in FIG. 7. The advantages of winding the tail coils in one position or the other, or on both the bobbin and the spindle, are well understood in the art and indicate the adaptability and versatility of the control system.

With reference to the electrical diagram shown in FIG. 8, the winding mechanism is inoperative and ready to wind a bobbin with the actuating assembly 51 in the position shown in FIG. 5. The plunger switch 48, start switch 43, stop switch 44, and a control relay CR are connected in series and these elements are connected in parallel with a normally open first control relay contact CR1 and with the motor 23, the control relay contact CR1 and the motor 23 being in series with each other. Under these circumstances, the plunger switch 48 is closed, the start switch 43 is open and the stop switch 44 is closed so that the control relay CR is de-energized. When the dotfer closes the start switch 43, a circuit is completed through the control relay CR closing its contact CR1 to energize the motor 23 whereupon the winding mechanism proceeds to wind the bobbin 35. A holding circuit is provided across the normally open start switch 43 and consists of a normally open second control relay contact CR2 in parallel with the start switch. Thus after the mechanism is in operation the second control relay contact CR2 is closed and although the start switch 43 is open, the circuit through control relay CR remains energized. Upon opening of the plunger switch 48, as in FIGS. 3 or 4, or opening of the stop switch 44, the control relay CR is de-energized and its contacts CR1 and CR2 open. The opening of contact CR1 takes the motor 23 out of circuit whereupon the winding mechanism may coast to a stop.

In the event that the twisting machine is of the type in which the yarn receiver, as 15, moves vertically, the control actuating assembly 51 is mounted for vertical movement therewith. Thus, the control system may be used with a twisting machine in which either the ring rail or the yarn receiver, or both move vertically.

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for a textile machine having drive means operable for driving mechanism in which yarn is delivered via a guide member to a rotating yarn receiver and the guide member and yarn receiver move relative to each other from a first zone with the guide member near a first end of the yarn receiver to a second zone with the guide member near a second end of the yarn receiver for winding yarn on the receiver, the guide ember and yarn receiver being then movable relative to each other back to the first zone for winding tail coils on the yarn receiver at said first zone; said control system having first means including a control member shiftable from an active to an inactive position during relative movement of said guide member and yarn receiver toward said first zone to render said drive means inoperative and thereby cease winding of said yarn onto said yarn receiver, and second means including a movable actuator for operating said control member at a predetermined point in the travel of said guide member and yarn receiver toward said first zone, to thereby wind a substantially predetermined number of tail coils on said yarn receiver.

2. A control system according to claim 1 including means for adjusting said actuator to Operate said control member at substantially any desired point during relative movement of said guide member and yarn receiver toward said first zone to wind substantially an desired number of tail coils on said yarn receiver.

3. A control system according to claim 1 wherein said second means includes holding means for limiting the movement of said actuator.

4. A control system according to claim 3 wherein said holding means comprises overcenter spring means and stop means for limiting the movement of said actuator.

5. A control system according to claim 1 wherein said actuator includes a fill limiting portion for operating said control member to discontinue winding of said yarn onto said receiver during relative travel of said guide member and said yarn receiver in a direction away from said first zone to a predetermined point at said second zone to prevent overfilling said yarn receiver.

6. A control system according to claim 5 wherein said control member comprises an electrical switch having a plunger movable from an active position to an inactive position for rendering said drive means inoperative, and said fill limiting portion of said actuator is a cam for moving said plunger to said inactive position.

7. A control system for a textile machine having drive means operable to drive mechanism in which yarn is delivered via a guide member to .a rotating yarn receiver and the guide member and yarn receiver more relative to each other from a first zone with the guide member near a first end of the yarn receiver to 'a second zone with the guide member near a second end of the yarn receiver to thereby wind the yarn on the yarn receiver, the guide member and yarn receiver being then movable relative to each other back to the first zone for winding tail coils on the yarn receiver at said first zone; said control system including a control member shiftable from an active position to an inactive position to render the drive means inoperable and thereby cease winding of yarn onto said yarn receiver, an actuator for shifting said control member to said inactive position, means mounting said actuator for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position in which said actuator is operable to move said control member to said inactive position, first initiating means for moving said actuator to said operative position as said guide member moves into said second zone, said control member being shiftable to its active position to permit rotation of said yarn receiver in response to movement of said yarn guide from said second zone toward said first zone, said actuator including limit means to shift said control member to said inactive position at a predetermined point in the travel of said yarn guide toward said first zone to wind a substantially predetermined number of tail coils on said yarn receiver, and second initiating means for moving said actuator to said inoperative position after the actuator has moved said control member to said second position during the movement of said yarn guide toward said first zone whereby to set said control system for winding yarn onto another receiver.

8. A control system according to claim 7 including means for adjusting said actuator to operate said control member at substantially any desired point during relative movement of said guide member and yarn receiver toward said first zone to wind substantially any desired number of tail coils on said yarn receiver.

9. A control system according to claim 7 wherein said actuator comprises a fill limiting portion for moving said control member to said inactive position during relative travel of said guide member and said yarn receiver in a direction away from said first zone to a predetermined point in said second zone to prevent overfilling said yarn receiver.

10. A control system according to claim 1 wherein said drive means includes an electrical motor, and said control member includes an electrical switch operable to interrupt electrical current to said motor when said switch is in an inactive position.

11. A control system according to claim 7 wherein said drive means includes an electrical motor, and said control member includes an electrical switch operable 8 Kennedy et a1. 57--54 Pray et a1 24226.4 Anderson et a1. 5754 Pray et a1. 242--26.4 Jones et a]. 5754 JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner 7 to interrupt electrical current to said motor when said 3,124,925 switch is in an inactive position. 3,231,209 3,256,683 References Cited 3,317,147 3,357,167 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,614,879 1/1927 Colman. 2,798,356 7/1957 Christiansson 5754 XR 3,080,701 3/1963 Kennedy et a1. 57-54 US. Cl. X.R. 

